participatory groundwater management

Description

With groundwater being the main water frontier its management and the engagement of users is becoming ever more important. There are several examples of this working and a more systematic upscaling is called for,

The challenge of community groundwater management “ The lake beneath” Groundwater users often have no idea how much groundwater there is A common ‘belief’ is that there is an underground river or lake that has no limitations. Drawing from St. Lucia,

The challenge of community groundwater management “ Every man his own well” Most wells are owned by individual families or small groups. So common groundwater management does not come automatically. The resources is typically shared by very many independent users

Local regulation can help address the lack of groundwater management

Reason 1: In many countries there are large numbers of small ground water users  This makes is difficult to manage ground water use ‘from the top’ only. Local regulation is required. Reason 2: There is little capacity to enforce in many countries  Whatever enforcement is there needs to be rooted in local acceptance. Reason 3: There is no evidence  that top down regulation (laws, well registration, user rights and groundwater pricing) on their own have worked anywhere.

What is special about this area (Anantapur)? No paddy is cultivated here, following a local ban on paddy Example

Local regulation of groundwater… The examples that exist are still few They now mainly concern Shallow aquifers Management of water quantity – not water quality Management of small aquifer systems – not of large unconfined aquifers

The examples that exist are still few

They now mainly concern

Shallow aquifers

Management of water quantity – not

water quality

Management of small aquifer

systems – not of large unconfined

aquifers

Most examples are ‘home-grown’. They have developed ‘against the odds’ without any outside support They are in most cases the only thing that worked Promoting participatory groundwater management is now the need of the day Local regulation of groundwater

In two areas lcoal regulation developed spontaneously Case 1 Panjgur Water users observed the groundwater decline in neighbouring valleys An unspoken ‘all-out’ ban on dugwells and tubewells developed in Panjgur But new karezes were still allowed It was ‘management by norm’ – there was no formal organization, but.. Everyone could intimidate someone else, who broke the ban

Case 1 Panjgur

Water users observed the groundwater decline in neighbouring valleys

An unspoken ‘all-out’ ban on dugwells and tubewells developed in Panjgur

But new karezes were still allowed

It was ‘management by norm’ – there was no formal organization, but..

Everyone could intimidate someone else, who broke the ban

Case 2: Mastung After a dry cycle water karezes came close to drying At initiative of local government zoning and minimum distance rules were discusssed and agreed by local leaders This was enforced by local administration But these rules were not restrictive enough Karezes were still falling dry The critical mass of supporters for the rules waned All those who could develop a well did so in the end In two areas local regulation developed spontaneously

Case 2: Mastung

After a dry cycle water karezes came close to drying

At initiative of local government zoning and minimum distance rules were discusssed and agreed by local leaders

This was enforced by local administration

But these rules were not restrictive enough

Karezes were still falling dry

The critical mass of supporters for the rules waned

All those who could develop a well did so in the end

Saurashtra – Gujarat, India Widespread decline in ground water This resulted among others in fluorosis Aggravated by 1985-87 drought Recharge movement started - inspired by Hindu leaders, diamond merchants and NGO’s Simple often individual water harvesting techniques were promoted – sinkpits, small checkdams These isolated experiments were succesful

Widespread decline in ground water

This resulted among others in fluorosis

Aggravated by 1985-87 drought

Recharge movement started - inspired by Hindu leaders,

diamond merchants and NGO’s

Simple often individual water harvesting techniques were promoted – sinkpits, small checkdams

Salheia - East Delta, Egypt Small investors bought land at fringe of canal command area They found themselves competing for shallow groundwater One water user – engineer by background – took the initiative for a joint hydro-geological survey After this farmers decided to turn the individual wells into a common network A water users association was established This association regulated groundwater usage It also successfully lobbied for canal supplies

Small investors bought land at fringe of canal command area

They found themselves competing for shallow groundwater

One water user – engineer by background – took the initiative for a joint hydro-geological survey

After this farmers decided to turn the individual wells into a common network

A water users association was established

This association regulated groundwater usage

It also successfully lobbied for canal supplies

Agricultural economy depends heavily on export to USA using ‘clean’ groundwater Intense groundwater use by urban, industrial and agricultural consumers In 1990’s the then Governor took the initiative to set up ‘Technical Groundwater Committees’ (COTAS) – representing the different user groups The COTAS have been promoting water saving and waste water reuse They have not had any regulatory powers and remained advisory bodies Overuse has continued and wells were retro-actively sanctioned by central government Guanajuoto - Mexico

Intense groundwater use by urban, industrial and agricultural consumers

In 1990’s the then Governor took the initiative to set up ‘Technical Groundwater Committees’ (COTAS) – representing the different user groups

The COTAS have been promoting water saving and waste water reuse

They have not had any regulatory powers and remained advisory bodies

Overuse has continued and wells were retro-actively sanctioned by central government

What do the cases tell us? Successes and failures Where it worked, it was the only thing that did Formal organization is useful but not essential Importance of correct information

Successes and failures

Where it worked, it was the only thing that did

Formal organization is useful but not essential

Importance of correct information

In all examples no one is excluded from using groundwater Local regulation is easy to get going But there are limitations: - The do’s and don’ts are somewhat inflexible - More complex actions demand organisations What do the cases tell us?

In all examples no one is excluded from using groundwater

Local regulation is easy to get going

But there are limitations:

- The do’s and don’ts are somewhat inflexible

- More complex actions demand organisations

No one was put out of business Local regulation triggers mitigating measures that were not used earlier - Recharge - Low cost drip - Soil moisture improvements Such mitigating measures are driven by other factors too – e.g. cost saving, convenience What do the cases tell us?

No one was put out of business

Local regulation triggers mitigating measures that were not used earlier

Simple rules work best! For instance: No tubewells, only open wells Minimum distance between wells ‘ No well’ zones Maximum depth for wells Wells only for drinking water No family to have more than 1 well No pumping for agriculture in part of the year Bans on certain high-water consuming crops (for instance paddy in dry season) What do the cases tell us?

Farmers trained to measure water tables, rainfall and make water balances

Make hydrology less esoteric

Lessons Focus on rules – not on ‘rights’ Awareness raising to cast the net wide and find local champions Make hydrological science accessible to the real stakeholders Promote supply and demand management options Promoting local regulation should be linked to watershed improvement programmes and rural water supply programs Supported by enabling legislation Make more of local water quality management

Focus on rules – not on ‘rights’

Awareness raising to cast the net wide and find local champions

Make hydrological science accessible to the real stakeholders

Promote supply and demand management options

Promoting local regulation should be linked to watershed improvement programmes and rural water supply programs

IS PARTICIPATORY GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT AN OPTION?

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